For artist Cindy Sherman’s triplex penthouse in the West Village, we wanted to distill the architectural envelope by utilizing a limited palette of humble materials. The boldest of these gestures, reflecting the unconventional spirit of the artist herself, was our decision to cover the walls and ceilings in a highly textured popcorn plaster that is typically associated with 1970s Midwest motels. More nuanced than the predictable white walls of a standard gallery, the plaster treatment nevertheless provides a uniform backdrop for Sherman’s extensive art collection, which encompasses everything from works by blue-chip contemporary artists to eccentric thrift-store finds. Throughout the kitchen and bedrooms, maximalist application of plaster, stainless steel, and linen ultimately imbues these quotidian materials with a kind of unpretentious luxury.
